After one of the wildest football seasons in recent memory, the big game is finally in sight. And since the AFC and NFC championship games are just a few days away, the AP Player of the Year awards are also on the horizon.
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Defensive Player of the Year
According to Kalshi, Cleveland superstar Myles Garrett has the 2025-26 AP Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) designation all but locked up. Garrett presently shows a 99% predicted likelihood to be named DPOY. More specifically, Kalshi’s traders have kept his price above 90¢ here since December 9.
After Garrett, no other player displays a chance greater than one percent. Still, let’s dive into pro football’s DPOY market and take a closer look at why Garrett is the favorite.
After winning this same award in 2023-24, Garrett revved up his play in 2025. Cleveland may have won only five games this season, but Garrett and the defense were not to blame. Notably, the Texas A&M alum produced 23 sacks, which set the league’s all-time single-season record.
But Garrett did a lot more than take down opposing quarterbacks (though his 39 QB hits were stellar). He also posted 60 total tackles and 33 tackles for loss. Simply put, Garrett was a certified game-wrecker.
Over the year, Garrett saw his DPOY odds gradually rise. However, he experienced his most significant bump on November 17, climbing to a 66.6% probability (up from 37.7% the day prior) on Kalshi. That came on the heels of his four-sack performance against Baltimore.
When compared to 2025, Garrett’s previous Defensive Player of the Year campaign (2023) shows nine fewer sacks and one less game played. Without a doubt, Garrett just orchestrated his best year to date, and arguably, the top defensive season of all-time.
The field:
As noted, no player besides Garrett is priced north of one cent on Kalshi to win the 2025-26 DPOY award. Be that as it may, there are others worthy of recognition.
Houston’s Will Anderson, Jr. also put together a fabulous campaign. Anderson, a defensive end from the University of Alabama, set career highs across the board, featuring 54 tackles (20 TFL), three forced fumbles, three pass deflections and a dozen quarterback sacks. His efforts in 2025 earned him his inaugural First-Team All-Pro accolade.
Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson is another defensive lineman who wreaked havoc this past year. Hutchinson produced 14.5 sacks, 14 TFL, four forced fumbles and one interception. Back on September 29, he rose to his peak pricing on Kalshi of 42¢ after logging two sacks and a forced fumble versus Cleveland.
The takeaway
Myles Garrett had the sort of season that cannot be denied. His presence alone causes opposing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators to lose sleep. There were certainly others worthy of consideration for the 2025-26 AP Defensive Player of the Year Award, but in reality, they all pale in comparison to Garrett’s recent campaign.
The DPOY (and other awards) will be announced on Thursday, February 5 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.
Kalshi markets now forecast:
2025-26 AP Defensive Player of the Year:
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